(CNN) - McCain supporter Sen. Lindsey Graham tells CNN the McCain campaign is proposing to the Presidential Debate Commission and the Obama camp that if there's no bailout deal by Friday, the first presidential debate should take the place of the VP debate, currently scheduled for next Thursday, October 2 in St. Louis.

In this scenario, the vice presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin would be rescheduled for a date yet to be determined, and take place in Oxford, Mississippi, currently slated to be the site of the first presidential faceoff this Friday.

Graham says the McCain camp is well aware of the position of the Obama campaign and the debate commission that the debate should go on as planned - but both he and another senior McCain adviser insist the Republican nominee will not go to the debate Friday if there's no deal on the bailout.

soundoff(1,459 Responses)

This would be comical if it weren't so serious. McCain is running scared. It is important at this time to have debates as to direction.

Palin is obviously not ready for primt time.

September 24, 2008 06:37 pm at 6:37 pm |

Tim in LA, CA

Wow... one gimmick after another... in one day too.

September 24, 2008 06:37 pm at 6:37 pm |

Dani from Tucson

It's called multi-tasking, us blue collar worker do it daily. McCain and Palin are not ready and they are playing games with the lives of American people. They are sick and very sad!!! Obama and Biden are ready and they can do more then one thing at a time. Open your eyes America, the McCain camp is playing you once again. Please don't buy into it.

September 24, 2008 06:38 pm at 6:38 pm |

NewGalactic

John McCain is right. This is a very important piece of legislation being discussed in congress right now. However, choosing the next President of the United States is also a very important decision. The next president will be the one to really administer this important piece of legislation, along with whatever other important pieces of legislation come about. Lets not get totally blind-sided by this one issue and ignore another that may be just as important. If it is at all possible to do both, contribute to this important legislation and campaign for the President, then lets by all means do both. We can't afford to lose sight of the "forest" for one (very large) tree.

this is utterly outrageous. Why on earth should we postpone the VP debates because of the financial crisis? Neither Joe Biden, nor Sarah Palin are on any boards or committees tied to this economic crisis.

If the McCain campaign feel they aren't ready for the debates, why not just concede the race? If a debate is too much to handle, being the Chief Executive is clearly beyond the McCain/Palin ticket's grasp.

September 24, 2008 06:38 pm at 6:38 pm |

Steve

I like the idea of sending Biden and Palin to help clean up the republican financial crisis.

Palin needs the experience anyway. Oh yeah, and she can still debate Biden on schedule because she told McBlame when he called and asked her to be VP that she was ready and that she had a map of the world incase any questions came up..................................

or maybe she would just fire everyone in congress so that she won't be found out....................................

Oh well,

Let the debate go on! This mess is going to take years to fix.

September 24, 2008 06:38 pm at 6:38 pm |

the other jd

McCain is pannicked. Pannicked! PANNICKED! He is overwhelmed. Out of control. And slipping up. The President of the US should not run. McCain is unfit AND unworthy.

September 24, 2008 06:38 pm at 6:38 pm |

Fed Up

McCain stop trying to buy more time. You are running to be the President of the United States of America, you must be able to multi task! The real story is that you want to push the debate for your Vice Presidential nominee to give Palin more time for her crash course! What's wrong, is she not picking up the lesson as quickly as you thought she would???

September 24, 2008 06:38 pm at 6:38 pm |

Dana, NYC

OMG, what is McCain's problem? I bet he prays there is no dela on the bailout so he can skip the debate. Where is he running to? To bring to the table his ideas on this financial crisis.... yeah, right. This guy is clueless when it comes to the economy so he should be kept away from any deals. And now that he has the "intelligent" Palin by his side, they should both be locked up for fear of spreading stupidity around the country. McCain is trying to postpone the debate not because he cares about the country, but because he cares about the polls...he is on his way down and he is desperately trying to stop that!!

September 24, 2008 06:38 pm at 6:38 pm |

Lisa P

Perhaps McCain could just give up his campaign entirely right now and save us all a lot of trouble? All this political posturing is just getting ridiculous!

September 24, 2008 06:38 pm at 6:38 pm |

Rodger

Now the facts are known...they still want Palin under wraps!
No way, No how, No McCain!!!
Still no Palin with the press...let's now cancel her debate...she'll be up to speed in 4-6 years "she's a quick study"

September 24, 2008 06:38 pm at 6:38 pm |

Call Your Congress - tell McCain to show up or put out!

This is absolutely outrageous!

McCain is pretty transparent in his intent to block the American People to hear what Gov. Sarah Palin has to say in the Vice Presidential debate on October 2nd.

The general public is ready (and willing) for the debates in the upcoming weeks, not to mention the one for this Friday.

Sabotaging the general elections in the USA in a blatant and disregarding way is absolutely outrageous!

Who do we have to call to complain about this? And does McCain think the american people (even those who he panders to) are a bunch of nimrods?

September 24, 2008 06:38 pm at 6:38 pm |

MikeH

And if there's no deal, and McCain is not involved in the finance committee that's constructing the bailout, just why is he sitting out a debate?

Oh I dunno, could it be GRANDSTANDING!!!

All show and no substance, all hat and no cattle.

You're losing Johnnie, this tantrum isn't going to help.

Like Obama said, a PRESIDENT has to do more than one thing at a time.

If your mind has become so feeble you don't have the mental faculties to handle more than one task, maybe you should withdraw from the race.

September 24, 2008 06:38 pm at 6:38 pm |

Jermaine Wagner

This is obviously a front to give Palin more time to "STUDY" for her debate with Joe biden. If she is so ready then let the vice presidential debate happen on Friday and then Obama and McCain have theirs on Thursday. This would be a real test of who is ready to lead the country if something to happen to the president don't you think?

September 24, 2008 06:39 pm at 6:39 pm |

jn

no way, no how, no changing the debates!!! Sorry if your precious pitbull isn't ready to debate Joe Biden!!!

The debates must go on! We have had enough of this stinking Republican mess with regards to the economy and John McSane and Sarah Palin...what ever happened to straight-talk express????

Nice try for the diversion though...won't work this time!!!!!

BARACK ALL THE WAY!!!!!

September 24, 2008 06:39 pm at 6:39 pm |

Longtime Democrat voting for McCain

WAAAA WAAAA thats not fair. I studied all week for this debate. I know exactly what I am going to say in case they do not let me have my traveling telepromper.
What am I going to do now? You mean I might actually have to vote on an issue instead of voting present.? Oh NO!!!!!!!!!!!

What a cry baby..

GO McCain

September 24, 2008 06:39 pm at 6:39 pm |

leiatcolo

So that is what he is up to.....getting more time for Palin to morph into a VP that can handle a debate....its going to take alot longer than that. Give it up John McBush, you and the rest of your cronies are going to have alot of time to drive around in your foreign cars.......

September 24, 2008 06:39 pm at 6:39 pm |

Farrell, Houston, Tx

JOHN MCCAIN KNEW SILVER BANK WAS FAILING, HIS SON WAS CEO AND QUIT 2 MONTHS BEFORE IT FAILED BUT JOHN MCCAIN SAID NOTHING AND INVESTORS LOST THEIR MONEY. JOHN MCCAIN WAS IN ARIZONA EVERY WEEKEND AND HE KNEW BUT DID NOTHING BUT A COVERUP FOR HIS SON. JOHN MCCAIN NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, HE IS UNFIT TO BE PRESIDENT.

September 24, 2008 06:39 pm at 6:39 pm |

Mel in GA

Why of course!!! Both McSAME and McPLAIN need more time to prepare... what a joke!!!!

September 24, 2008 06:39 pm at 6:39 pm |

tired

Now we get the real reason for delaying the presedential debate. LOL!

September 24, 2008 06:39 pm at 6:39 pm |

mimi

McCain is just pulling a stunt. He also looks like the the cowardly lion.

September 24, 2008 06:39 pm at 6:39 pm |

Kate

Oh, how INteresting...need more time to prep Palin? Give it up. Wow...this is all so transparent. It's pathetic!

September 24, 2008 06:39 pm at 6:39 pm |

NORA, FLORIDA

MCCAIN CONTINUES TO RUN FROM THE CAMERAS!!!

This is what this headline should read. As a working American, we are forced to multitask on the job all of the time. Why is Johnny boy given exceptions when he is running for the highest office in the land??????

September 24, 2008 06:39 pm at 6:39 pm |

awaiting moderation

Yeah right!

If that's the case then they just have Palin and Biden debate THIS Friday and have McCain and Obama take the one next week that the VP's were going to do.